Pics or info of how much stuff you carry.

[762x51]

So I have a 09 Tacoma right now that I am looking to get rid of for the simple fact that I only take it camping or drive it on the weekends. The payment is not a problem but I am finding it hard to keep making such a high payment on something I only use camping.

When I go camping I have me, the wife, and a 1 yr old. I do have a GSD, and a great dane that normally ride in the bed along with my gear (cooler, chairs, food, table, ect.) I usually have a little room left in my bed, and I do tow a small 5x8 trailer that a quad sits on that has some room left on it.

If I do get a runner I would for sure get a roof rack for a little more space, and I could probably fit a couple things on the trailer due to the dogs will take up most all the room in the rear cargo area. Any pictures, info, or stories of what you guys take camping or your experiences with the space the 3rd gen 4runners have would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[ryankmasuda]

I go camping with two kids(3 & 5), my girlfriend and yellow lab and I'm packed to the gills with stuff. I just put on a full length rack and I'm able to make more space. In your case with one kid you can fold down one rear seat and you gain a lot of room, It shouldn't be too bad. I've actually found that folding down one seat and putting my dog on the folded down seat works well and my dog has room to lay down. OR if I can get my girlfriend to pack less clothes I'll get a view out the rear view mirror.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

My wife and I just did a weekend up in the mountains with her two grown kids and having the rack was a big deal as we put our clothes bag,4 chairs,tent for the kids (we slept in the Runner) and sleeping bags up top and 3 coolers,porta potty,blankets,pillows,food tote and various other stuff in the truck. Normally we have only one kid go so if you can flip down one seat you do gain alot of space which we filled with 3 mattress pads last year. (this year her brother took them up for us)
I was suprised we got that much stuff in the truck but we took everyhting we needed.

 

[Pikeman]

Depends on how long the trip is as to what I bring. I can say that I am almost always full as well especially when I take the kids 5&8. I take a Coleman Grillmate(full size BBQ with folding legs), sleeping bags, folding table, Large cooler, small cooler, Pelican case with other camp supplies, folding camp toilet and then bags for clothes, camp chairs etc. I do have a roof rack but didnt have it on the last couple trips. That would help with room to bring my dog that I just got. I am also planning on building an adventure trailer with an RTT, propane, slide out compartment for the stove. This will allow me to leave camping stuff loaded then will just need to hook up and go and leave all the room in the 4Runner for passengers.

 

[alleghenyman]

Related question: Anyone ever fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood in the back? I'm thinking about buying one. I don't have a lot of free time to go used car shopping right now and measure the cargo area.

Thanks

 

[HCurphy]

i fit a bix box of 4x6 signs in the back and it was pretty tight.
a fullsize sheet of plywood would be tricky unless you didnt care about scratching the trim and leaving the back hatch open

 

[theizzardking]

if you pack right you should be fine, it all really depends on how much stuff you feel you need, that said, i have lived out of my 4runner for a number of weeks on road trips, one summer we drove from seattle to wyoming to arizona to so cal and back up going to all of the major national parks along the way, i made a bed from steel hinges and plywood in the back as a bed so we could stow the seats up and be a bit more orgonized for the days travels, but yeah i've done everything from heavy loaded 3 day motorbike weekend trips to multi-week long 4000 mi journeys through extremely differnt climates and never had a problem getting everything i need in there, varying climates means lots of different types of clothing and gear!

sounds to me as if you can make it work, worst case just get a slightly larger trailer, it'll be cheaper then having payments in the long run,


and some pics!

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[fightman80]

Ok so no real pics of the cargo space loaded, but we had 2 suitcases, 2 45qt Coolers filled with booze and food, a 30 pack of bottled water, pillows, various grocery bags of food, portable BBQ and extra tanks, a baby play pen, 2 coats, 2 pairs of shoes, 2 re-useable grocery bags with all the girls toys in them, a portable DVD player (to keep the girls occupied for the ride), 2 adults, a 3 year old in a car seat, and a 1yr old in hers. That was just in the truck....and we didn't utilize the roof rack.......

The trailer had a full tank of water, more food, a spare propane tank, various bricks and boards (to keep it in place when it's parked), all of our blankets, dishes, toiletries, a rubber mat, 2 fishing rods and a tackle box.....and I think thats it!

 

[762x51]

Thanks for the info and pictures. It looks as if a 3rd gen 4runner will my needs perfectly. Now I just need to dump the taco and find me a 4runner.